AU · Northern Territory · 13.10°S 132.60°E

kakadu national park

Aboriginal rock art, crocodile-filled wetlands and wide escarpment views.

Best time
June–September is the dry season, when the roads and most sites are open. Some areas only reopen in May or June after the rains; December–March brings monsoon floods that close many roads.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly to Darwin with one stop, usually via Singapore, about 8–10 hours all in. Jabiru, in the middle of the park, is about 3 hours' drive from Darwin. Darwin is 1.5 hours ahead of KL all year.
Save postcard
AU · Northern Territorykakadu national park13.10°S 132.60°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Aboriginal rock art, crocodile-filled wetlands and wide escarpment views.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKakadu National ParkAU, Northern Territory
KLkakadu national park
≈ 3,860 km from KL, as the crow flies
Aboriginal Rock Art, Ubirr Art Site, Kakadu National Park, Australia

Photo: Thomas Schoch · CC BY-SA 2.5

1 / 3

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Kakadu is Australia's biggest national park, a vast living cultural landscape of floodplains, sandstone escarpment and some of the oldest rock art on Earth. Distances are long, so give it a few nights rather than a day trip.

Makan

  1. Cool-box picnicStops are far apart, so sandwiches and fruit from Darwin save the day.Map ↗
  2. BarramundiLodge restaurants serve the local fish, often grilled.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. UbirrRock-art galleries and a short climb to a lookout over green floodplain, best at sunset.Map ↗
  2. Burrungkuy / NourlangieA walk past rock art beneath the escarpment, including the painting of the Lightning Man.Map ↗
  3. Yellow Water cruiseA boat trip through wetlands full of crocodiles, jabirus and other birds; sunrise is best.Map ↗
  4. Warradjan Cultural CentreBininj and Mungguy stories of life in Kakadu, told in their own words, near Cooinda.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Kakadu has its own park pass, separate from the Northern Territory pass that covers Litchfield.
  • Jim Jim and Twin Falls need a 4WD or a tour and usually open only later in the dry season. Never swim where a sign doesn't say it's safe: saltwater crocodiles live here.
  • Halal meat is scarce in the park, so stock up in Darwin.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.